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"To Evaluate the Potential Water Quality Impacts of Headland Stacking Dry Poultry Manure "
Finished Document: Characterization of Poultry Manure View Here
Finished Document: Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses to Surface Water from Headland Stacked Poultry Manure View Here
Finished Document: Stockpiling Manure and Soluble Salts: Site Remediation for Crop Production View Here
Wisconsin is one of the nation’s leading poultry states in terms of the production of chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Though the state has thousands of small poultry producers, the impact of the industry is exhibited through a number of integrated companies. One of the nation’s largest turkey feeding and processing operations is found in Northwestern Wisconsin. Duck production and egg production is based in Southeastern Wisconsin. Clearly the manure generated by the poultry industry has the potential for significant environmental impacts. Many poultry companies control the land application of manure, while others require their owner/operators to spread nutrients based on approved nutrient management plans. However, a unique management problem associated with poultry manure is known as “headland stacking” where manure is stacked in a field for various periods of time prior to spreading. This study is designed to improve the understanding of whether headland stacking has adverse affects on surface and/or groundwater. The UW-Discovery Farms Program agreed to undertake this study in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) and the poultry industry.
The objectives of this study are to assess the potential environmental impacts, especially related to nitrogen and phosphorus losses, from piles of poultry manure and bedding in headland stacks (from 11 days up to one year). Manure that is piled in the field and spread within 10 days is referred to as headland staging and is thought to have little potential for contributing to nonpoint source pollution.
The three phases of this study include field trials that are designed to look at the following areas of concern: 1) Water infiltration as well as establishing the water holding capacity of a traditional pile of poultry manure, 2) Potential nutrient leaching through a pile and into the soil profile and potentially groundwater, 3) Nutrients leaving a stack and potentially getting into the surface water, and 4) How to establish a crop on the stacking site immediately after removal of the manure in an effort to reduce nutrient levels in the soil and reduce potential nutrient losses.
